**Apocalyptic drama ‘Leave the World Behind’ rises to No 1 on Netflix, but receives mixed reviews**
The apocalyptic drama “Leave the World Behind” has taken the top spot on the Netflix film rankings, but the response from viewers and critics has been polarizing.
The film, which stars Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, Ethan Hawke, and Kevin Bacon, depicts a society on the brink of collapse as technological infrastructure begins to unravel. Despite reaching No 1 on the streaming service’s charts, “Leave the World Behind” has received mixed reviews from critics and viewers alike.
Adapted from the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam, the film was produced by Higher Ground Productions, the company founded by former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle.
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, “Leave the World Behind” boasts a critics score of 75 per cent positive, with the audience score lagging at just 42 per cent.
Viewers have taken to social media to express their opinions on the film, with many criticizing its 140-minute runtime. Some have described the movie as “weird,” “stupid,” and “cynical,” while others have noted that it takes too long to reach the point, which they found to be unsatisfying.
Elon Musk has also been involved in the discussion, being lampooned over his complaint about a Tesla “inaccuracy” featured in the film.
Meanwhile, “Leave the World Behind” is followed on the Netflix charts by the body-swap comedy “Family Switch,” which has sparked controversy among viewers due to a scene involving an “incestuous” kiss.
Directed by McG, “Family Switch” sees four family members switch bodies, resulting in a married couple taking on the roles of their children and vice versa. The controversial scene features the children, in their parents’ bodies, being forced to kiss at a social gathering.
“Leave the World Behind” and “Family Switch” are both currently available to stream on Netflix.
It seems that while “Leave the World Behind” has found success in attaining the No 1 spot on Netflix, its mixed reviews and polarizing response from viewers indicate that the film may not be to everyone’s taste.